Universal firing-pin



(No Model.)

P. H. TIOHENOR. UNIVERSAL FIRING PIN.

No. 592,942. Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

- Fig. 5.

llNrrE STATES I ATENT Enron.

FRANCIS H. TICI-IENOR, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

UNIVERSAL FIRING-PIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,942, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed March 22, 1 8 9 7.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. TICHENOR, of Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Firing- Pins for Breech Mechanisms for Firearms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in breech-blocks and breech mechanisms for breech-loading guns, and refers more specifically to a novel and improved universal firing pin for use in such guns by means of which the arm may be easily and quickly converted from a central-fire to a rim-fire gun and the reverse and which may also be used interchangeably with barrels of Various calibers.

In the drawings illustrating my invention in one form, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a breech-block embodying my invention, showing the firing-pin mechanism in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a section thereof taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. iis a front elevation of a block, showing the firing-pin in position to be used with a central-fire cartridge. Fig. 5 is the same View showing the pin in position to act upon the largest-sized rim-fire cartridge used with the block illustrated.

As shown in the drawings, A designates the breech-block as a whole. The particular block herein illustrated is designed for use with a Stevens ideal rifle and comprises a main body portion A, within which the firingpin mechanism is located, anda forwardlyextending arm A by means of which it may be pivotally attached to the gun-frame adjacent to the breech end of the barrel. Said block is also herein shown as provided on its rear lower portion with a suitable recess or slot which is adapted to be engaged by a lever for the purpose of throwing the block into and out of its firing position, it being understood that the block swings downwardly upon a suitable pivot-pin which passes through a pivot-aperture a in the forward end of the arm A Said block is also provided with an irregular-shaped recess A, which is adapted Serial No. 628,650. (No model.)

to receive the extractor, which oscillates on a screw passing through the frame. While my invention is shown as embodied in this particular form of breech-block, it will be understood that it may be used with any form of block or action without regard to the form thereof or means of attaching the same .to the gun.

The front face A of the block above the arm A is formed with a plane vertical surface which is adapted to fit upon the rear end of the barrel, and within said front face is formed an annular shallow recess a, the axis of which is parallel with the central axis of the barrel and eccentric thereto. Said recess is herein shown as being located somewhat below the bore of the barrel, as indicated by the position of the cartridge in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Said recess forms a seat for a disk B of suitable thickness, which disk is fitted within the recess so as to be readily turned therein, but filling the same from the front to the rear thereof with its outer face in the forward plane of the front face A of the block. Said disk Bis provided between its center and circumference with an aperture extending from the front to rear thereof, withinwhich is mounted to reciprocate a firing-pin O, which is adapted to have forcible contactv with the cartridge to thereby explode the same, said pin having sufficient longitudinal movement in the disk to effect this result. Said firing-pin is provided on its rear end with a suitable head which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable reciprocating plunger,

by means of which the forward end of the pin is brought into forcible contact with the cartridge. 7 The length of the pin outside of the head will be such that the head thereof will not strike the rear face of the disk when the pin is at the forward limit of its movement. Said head also prevents the pin from falling out of the disk when said disk is exposed. As the'disk is mounted eccentrically' center of the cartridge and will be adapted to be used with central-fire cartridges either for a rifle having a single barrel or one having a plurality of interchangeable barrels of different oalibers,as it is evident that any size central-fire cartridges within the capacity of the block can be used in the one position shown in said Fig. 4. \Vhen, however, a change is to be made from a central-fire to a rim-fire cartridge, the disk will be turned, carrying the firing-pin downwardly, and owing to the eccentricity of the circle described by the firing-pin to the cartridge it will be obvious that while said pin is describing the half-circle from the point shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, or one hundred and eighty degrees, the pin will pass successively through the proper positions for firing all the various calibers of rim-fire cartridges within the capacity thereof. When used in an interchangeable-barrel gun and a change is made to a smaller caliber, the firing-pin may be made to strike the rim of such cartridge by turning it in either direction to a point between its upper and lower-positions. (Shown in Figs. 4 and 5.) In the present instance the firing mechanism is shown as adapted for center-fire cartridges and rimcartridges from twenty-two to thirty-eight caliber, Fig. 5 showing in full lines the pin in position for use with a thirty-eight-caliber cartridge and showing in dotted lines the pin in position to strike the rim of a twenty-twocaliber cartridge.

It will be understood, of course, that the firing-pin will only need to be moved radially outward in the disk to provide for barrels of a larger caliber. Small apertures c c are shown radially opposite the center of said disk which are adapted to be engaged by a suitable spanner,by which the disk may be turn ed and the position of the pin changed, as above described. In order to retain the disk in position within its seat when the block is thrown backwardly to expose the breech of the barrel for the purpose of inserting or removing the cartridge, said disk is provided with a peripheral groove 0, which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable screw D, inserted through the wall of the block, said screw being mounted tangentiallyto the circumference of the disk. Said screw D will also prevent the disk 0 from turning when the firing-pin has been adjusted as desired.

As a means for actuating the firing-pin C from the hammer of the gun the block is shown as provided with a longitudinal passage or chamber which extends from the rear end of the block to the annular recess a, forming the seat for the disk B and within which is mounted to reciprocate aplunger E. Said plunger is herein shown as of cylindric form and mounted in the block at an angle to the central axis of the barrel, but such angular relation is only necessary for use with low-hammer guns. It will be understood that the plunger maybe set in the block or action parallel with the central axis of the barrel or at an angle thereto, the line of the plunger being determined by the particular form of breech block or action, and it being only necessary that the inner end of the plunger be formed in a plane substantially parallel with the planes of the faces of the disk. Said plunger will be moved forwardly when struck by the hammer, which will in turn move the firing-pin C forwardly by engagement with the head 0 thereof. It will be noted by an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings that when the plunger is drawn back until the forward shoulder of the notch thereon engages the cross-pin e and the head of the firing-pin is in contact with its front face the point of the firing-pin will be in the plane of the front face of the disk and therefore just touching the cartridge. By this construction it will be obvious that lost motion will be obviated and that the instant the hammer strikes the plunger the point of the firing-pin begins to act on the cartridge. The opening of the action will carry the firing-pin back until the point is in the plane of the disk and the head of said pin rests against the front face of the plunger. A firing-pin mechanism made as described will therefore act in point of time as one piece.

It will be understood that should it be desired to use a barrel for a larger caliber of rim-fire cartridges than can be reached by the firing-pin as located in the particular mechanism shown in the drawings the firingpin may be placed at a greater distance from the center of the disk and the diameter of the plunger enlarged throughout its length or only at its point of contact with the head 0 to correspond with the changed position of the pin, as above stated. In the latter case said plunger will be inserted in place from the front of the block or action. In order to retain said plunger in the block A, it is shown as provided on its under side with a shallow recess, within which is adapted to fita suitable screw 6, passing laterally through the block. Said recess is made somewhat longer than the diameter of the retaining-screw to provide for the necessary reciprocation of the plunger. The rear end of the plunger E is formed to correspond with the curved rear end of the block A when in its innermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, and will desirably be made to correspond with whatever form of block it may be used.

It will be seen that a firing-pin mechanism made in accordance with my invention can be very economically made and may be fitted to any style of gun now in use. It may as readily be adapted to the bolt-action gunssuch as the Winchester repeater, Marlin, and othersas to the construction herein shown and described, or to guns in which the frame forms the mechanism against which the rear end of the barrel rests and which forms the abutment against which the cartridge eX- plodes. It will act equally well at any angle or with its axis parallel with that of the bore of the barrel, and the pin is of such size that it does not weaken the block. Owing to the eccentricity of the pin to the bore of the barrel it may be used equally well with any diameter of cartridge with no change except to revolve the disk. The device is entirely out of the way of the mechanism of the gun and is practically invisible. There will desirably be placed upon the disk and adjacent the front face of the block graduation-lines, by means of which the disk may be accurately set to the caliber desired. It will be further noted that a tight and solid abutment is provided against which the explosion acts, so that there is no possibility of gas escaping through the rear thereof and into the face of the user.

It is to be understood that by the use of the word gun is meant any form of arm as rifle, shotgun, revolver, and the likein which the charge is inserted at the breech by means of a cartridge.

While I have shown one form of my invention, it will be obvious from the foregoing that many changes in the details thereof will be made in adapting it to the different forms of arms, and I do not wish to be limited, therefore, to the exact construction herein shown.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the breech block or mechanism of a breech-loading gun, of a two-part universal firing-pin mechanism comprising a part mounted to rotate in said breech block or mechanism means for holding the same from movement toward and from the gun-barrel, a firing-pin mounted loosely in said part to reciprocate therein, said firstmentioned part being adapted to be rotated to bring the firing-pin either concentrically or eccentrically to the bore of the gun-barrel and an independently-reciprocating plunger in said block adapted to communicate the blow of the hammer to said firing-pin in any of its positions.

2. The combination with the breech block or mechanism of a breech-loading gun, of a two-part universal firing-pin mechanism comprising a rotatable disk mounted in the forward end of said block or mechanism and eccentrically to the bore of the gun-barrel, means for preventing movement thereof toward and from said gun-barrel, a firing-pin mounted eccentrically in said disk and having free reciprocatory movement therein toward and from said barrel and a plunger mounted behind said firing-pin and adapted to communicate the blow of said hammer to the said pin.

3. The combination with a breech block or mechanism of a breech-loading gun provided in its front face with an annular recess, of a two-part universal firing-pin mechanism comprising a rotatable disk mounted in said recess eccentrically to the bore of the gun-barrel, said disk being provided with a reciprocating firing-pin mounted eccentrically therein and an independently-reciprocating plunger mounted in said block and adapted to communicate the blow of the hammer to said firing-pin.

4. The combination with the breech block or mechanism of a breech-loading gun, provided in its front face with an annular recess, of a two-part universal firing-pin mechanism comprising a rotatable disk, a firing -pin loosely mounted therein and eccentric to said disk and means for communicating the blow of the gun-hammer to said firing-pin, said disk being provided with a peripheral groove which is engaged by a screw-threaded bolt which is inserted through the adjacent wall of the block or mechanism to hold said disk in place at any point in its rotation.

5. The combination with the breech block or mechanism of a breech-loading gun, of a two-part universal firing-pin mechanism comprising a rotatable disk mounted in the front face of the block and eccentric to the bore of the gun-barrel, provided with a firing-pin mounted eccentrically thereto, and to reciprocate in said disk, means for holding said disk in place, a plunger mounted in said block and adapted to communicate the blow of the hammer to the firing-pin and means for holding said plunger in place and limiting its movement in the block.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 17th day of March, A. D.-

1897. FRANCIS H. TIOHENOR. Witnesses:

ELIZABETH O. LYNCH, ROBERT P. JAcK. 

